Rockets report: Lin recovers after Love's elbow to head

Jeremy Lin's forehead shows the effects of taking an elbow from the Timberwolves' Kevin Love.

Photo: Bob Levey, Special To The Chronicle

Guard Jeremy Lin had a nasty bump on his head after he was elbowed by Minnesota's Kevin Love on Saturday night.

But the knot, which immediately rose on the right side of Lin's head near his temple, was barely noticeable at practice Sunday.

"I am much better," he said. "I had a headache last night, but today I am fine."

Lin went through the whole practice Sunday afternoon.

"I just iced it, kept compression on it, and the swelling went down really fast," he said.

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Scouting report: At Memphis

Three things to watch in tonight's game:

1 Glide or grind: The Grizzlies, last in the NBA in pace, have moved back to their slow-down, grind-it-out style, a philosophy that likely will not change even with the knee injury to Marc Gasol. If anything, the Rockets, who have moved to fifth in pace, probably will be even more up-tempo with James Harden likely out. Neither team can afford to be lured into the other's style.

2 Gasol gone. Pick-and-roll: With Memphis losing last season's Defensive Player of the Year Gasol, the Rockets would seem to place a priority on getting Dwight Howard touches inside. Kosta Koufos offers a big body to bang with Howard, but Gasol is one of the league's best pick-and-roll defenders. Even if Harden is out, the Rockets might need to attack the lane off the dribble.

3 Step in, step up: When Harden was out in Philadelphia, Jeremy Lin had a season-high 34 points. When Harden was out Saturday, Aaron Brooks scored a season-high 26. With Harden likely out Monday, someone might have to produce a big game. It does not matter who that will be, but to keep the league's top-scoring offense going, someone might need a big night.

Jonathan Feigen

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McHale praises bench output

Guard Aaron Brooks came off the bench Saturday to score 26 points.

But that wasn't the first time a bench player has turned heads for the Rockets this season.

Donatas Motiejunas was key for the team when Omer Asik and Greg Smith were out last week.

Terrence Jones had such a good night a few weeks ago against Toronto that he earned a starting spot.

"I appreciate the way those guys have played," coach Kevin McHale said. "I tell them all the time in front of the team how hard that is. If you're a good basketball player and getting your minutes, you are just going to go out there and look good. When you are not playing and you have an opportunity and you have worked at your game, stayed after practice and done all those things, that is harder to do, believe it or not, than to play 35 minutes a game and look good.

"I am really proud that those guys have kept working hard and staying ready for us."

Idol banter with young fan

The Rockets had a visitor at practice Sunday.

Aaron Ben-Shmuel, 12, from Miami, was in the gym and played one-on-one with his favorite player, James Harden, and one of his new favorites, Dwight Howard

Ben-Shmuel's parents are friends with Rockets athletic trainer Keith Jones For their son's upcoming bar mitzvah gift, they flew him to Houston to see the Rockets-Timberwolves game.

Ben-Shmuel's favorite NBA player is Harden. Unfortunately, Harden didn't play, but all wasn't lost because he met his idol in the gym.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Ben-Shmuel said. "I learned a lot. Things about basketball, like how to improve my shot and other things, too, like how to have fun and respect your teammates."

Ben-Shmuel scored four points in his 11-4 loss to Harden. He lost 11-2 to Howard. Neither player went easy on him.

"He has some game," Harden said. "He made some tough shots, and he is lefthanded. I will have to teach him some more things."

Jenny Dial Creech, a native of San Antonio and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, started at the Houston Chronicle in 2005 as a high school sports reporter. She has since covered an array of beats and served as an assistant sports editor and senior editor of Texas Sports Nation. Creech is the president of the Association for Women in Sports Media and was awarded the 2015 APSE Diversity Fellowship. In addition to her role at the Houston Chronicle, Creech also works with several high school and college journalists at Columbia University journalism conferences and workshops.